Samsung's Last Chance to Beat Apple

Foldable phones are gradually becoming more accepted by the market. Photo: Bloomberg .

The US smartphone market, which has been dominated by the iPhone for years, is seeing a new wave of competition from foldable phones. While still the king of sales, the iPhone is facing pressure to innovate as consumers increasingly look to products with flexible screens.

Dipanjan Chatterjee, an analyst at Forrester, said that while interest in foldable phones is growing, they still only account for a small share of the market, around 1-2% of total smartphone sales. However, he stressed that the fact that big brands are investing heavily in this segment shows that the market is gradually changing.

Samsung, Motorola, and Google are the leaders in the foldable phone race. Samsung has positioned its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip as technology pillars, while Motorola has revived the Razr brand with a familiar flip design, and Google has entered the market with the Pixel Fold.

In July, Samsung hit a milestone when pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 increased by 25% compared to the previous generation. This positive signal reflects the company's broader growth trend. According to Canalys , Samsung's smartphone sales in the US in the second quarter of 2025 increased by 38% compared to the same period last year. Google also recorded a 13% increase, while Motorola inched up by 2%.

Despite the positive signs, iPhone sales fell 11% year-over-year. Canalys said Apple boosted sales early in the year to avoid the impact of new tariffs, but it was difficult to maintain an absolute advantage as rivals accelerated.

It’s worth noting that Apple has so far stayed out of the foldable screen game. Analysts say that if the tech giant were to join, the entire market landscape could change. A report from JP Morgan in July predicted that the company would launch a foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 series, which is expected to launch in September 2026. The price is estimated at around $1,999 , on par with the Galaxy Z Fold7.

“If Apple launches a foldable iPhone, it will be much more widely accepted in the US market,” Chatterjee said.

Meanwhile, Apple still has reasons to be patient. Data from Counterpoint Research shows that in the first quarter of 2025, 5 out of 10 best-selling smartphones globally were iPhones. With its brand appeal and tight ecosystem, the bitten Apple is not yet under pressure to rush into the risky foldable screen market.

Source: https://znews.vn/thoi-cua-smartphone-gap-sap-den-post1580107.html